quality issues in telepractice
TRANSCRIPT
Ad Hoc Committee on Telepractice in SLP
Session 1612November 20, 2009
100%QUALITY
Janet BrownASHA
What is Telepractice?
Telepractice is the application of telecommunications technology at a distance by linking clinician to client, or clinician to clinician for assessment, intervention, and/or consultation.
ASHA 2004 position statementwww.asha.org/telepractice.htm
A Rose By Any Other Name– Profession Specific
TelespeechTeleaudiologyTelenursing, teleradiology, etc.
– More GenericTelerehabilitation (American Telemedicine Assoc.)
– Even More GenericTelehealth, telemedicine
What Telepractice Is Not
– Distance supervision or mentoringClinical Fellows (allowed by CFCC)
Students (up to university)
Assistants (no guidance from ASHA; check with state)
– Distance education
Necessary Clarifications– Does it assume audio and visual
connection?– Are there specific standards?– What service is being provided, e.g.:
Synchronous (real time) connection with qualified provider?Access to online materials?Self-paced programs?Clinician-monitored programs?
ASHA Resources–ASHA Web page
http://www.asha.org/practice/telepractice/2004-2005 policy documentsLeader articlesVideo clip
–2008-2009 Ad Hoc Committee: Professional Issues document
–Advocacy for Medicare pilot for stroke rehab
Other Resources
– American Telemedicine AssociationTelerehab Special Interest Group
– Center for Telehealth and E-health law– Association of Telehealth Service
Providers
Pauline MashimaTripler Army Medical Center
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not reflect the officialpolicy or position of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
Past“Telepractice will undoubtedly help our members fulfill their
obligation to improve access to clinical services.”
Telepractice and ASHA: Report of the Telepractices Team(2001)
“Only 11% are now using telepractice in delivering services to their patients…it is striking that 43% of the survey respondents expressed interest in using telepractice in the future.”
Survey Report on Telepractice Use Among Audiologistsand Speech-Language Pathologists
(2002)
Past– Barriers to Telepractice:
CostLack of professional standardsLack of data on efficacy and cost-effectivenessReimbursement policiesConcern about malpractice liabilityConcern about patient confidentialityLicensure laws that affect interstate practiceOther factors
Survey Report on Telepractice Use Among Audiologistsand Speech-Language Pathologists
(2002)
Present– Lessons learned to facilitate success:
Organizational readinessTechnological conditionsUser trainingClinical protocolsOutcomesClient and clinician satisfaction
– Quality issues in telepractice:Developing proposals for telepracticeOverview of current practice settings and modelsTechnology considerations and their impact on service deliveryLegal and ethical issues
Potential Initiative– Clinical intervention through telehealth will play an important
role in care for Wounded WarriorsIncreasing need for TBI assessment, treatment, and surveillanceShortage of TBI specialists to meet this need
– Telehealth delivery can improve TBI services and extendclinical activities across the continuum of care and recovery
Heterogeneous nature of TBI requires cooperation of many disciplinesServices need to be coordinated among military, VA, and community programs
Girard (2007). Military and VA telemedicine systems for patients with TBI.Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 44(7): 1017-1026.
Future– Research is needed to:
Develop evidence-based guidelines for telepracticeProvide clinical outcomes data to substantiate reimbursement for services delivered remotelyPromote widespread acceptance of telepractice through positive scientific evidence to support its use
– Areas in which research is needed:TechnicalClinicalHuman factors and ergonomicsEconomic analyses
American Telemedicine Association(2006)
Developing Proposals For Quality Telepractice Programs
Vickie PullinsLinguaCare Associates, Inc.
USED THE EMAIL ADDRESS FROM WHAT’S IN NET FORUM?????
StakeholdersWho are the stakeholders?
State Department of EducationAdministrators and Teachers Chief Operating Officer of Medical FacilityMedical Support StaffIT Personnel of FacilityClinicians on staff
Why Telepractice?
IDEALimited access to servicesPersonnel shortagesRemote geographic areasTime limitationsCost effectiveClinical outcomes
Technology To Be Utilized
Specific equipment to be utilized and modes of deliveryDiscuss the necessary telecommunications and network links needed for the delivery of the programDiscuss the necessary environmental elements of care
Provider Qualifications
ASHA Certification
State Licensure
Liability/Malpractice Insurance
Telepractice Training
Client Selection
Discuss necessary pre-requisites for clients to be eligible for telepractice
Discuss obtaining consent for telepractice
Discuss clinical protocols
Use of Facilitators
Responsibilities of the facilitator
Utilization of current staff when selecting the facilitator
Facilitator training
Evaluation of Effectiveness and OutcomesDocumentation of clinical encounterDocumentation of client’s performanceEvaluation by student/client, physician, parent, teacher, administrator– Access to care– Timeliness of care– Continuity of care– Coordination and comprehensiveness of
care– Acceptability of care
Privacy/Security
Software and hardware applications with encryption
Virtual Private Network (VPN) software, including downloading and configuring VPN software for a modem backbone and satellite connections
Firewall applications
ReimbursementDiscuss Medicaid issues– Evaluations– Treatment– Care Coordination– Facility fee to the originating site (i.e.
school)
Discuss fees for service – Fees for SLP providing the services at the
distant site
Telepractice References
Share with the stakeholders the success stories of telepractice.
Include references with names and statements from the references regarding the success and satisfaction of the telepractice service.
Quotes
Parent - “My son really loves going to speech this year. He is disappointed when he cannot work with the speech therapist on the t.v. screen.”Teacher - “Telepractice has been amazing just to watch my students be more alert not only in seeing another person talk to them on t.v. but also enable them to improve their speech skills.”
Administrator’s Quote
“We have been very satisfied with the telepractice services. We will use telepractice again next year. Great job!”
Melissa O’BrienSpecial Education Director
Diana ChristianaClinical Communications
SchoolsPrivate PracticeHome HealthClinicsMedical FacilitiesMilitary FacilitiesUniversitiesDay Care Centers
NeurogenicFluencyAlaryngeal SpeechVoiceDysphagiaChildhood Speech-LanguageHearing ImpairedAAC trainingAccent Training
Assessment
Intervention
Consultation
SHOULD THE WORDS ASSESSMENT, INTEVENTION, CONSULIOANLN .BE AT WITH THE BOX WITHIN A BOX?..
Mentoring
Family Education/Support
Team meetings
SHOULD THE WORDS ASSESSMENT, INTEVENTION, CONSULIOANLN .BE AT WITH THE BOX WITHIN A BOX?..
What is important? What do you need to be able to do to deliver quality service?
Audio and visual requirements
Sharing of materials
Modifications
Facilitator’s role
(281) 275-4242
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David Brennan National Rehabilitation Hospital
• 1924 cover of Radio News• Radio still in its infancy• 3 years before first
experimental television transmission
Bonfires Telegraph Telephone Radio TV Digital Transmission Internet ???
“Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another…”Live:
Participants are in simultaneous contact, typically using video and audio (and/or other signals)Real-time, synchronous
Store and Forward:Images, text, and other information are transmitted now for examination laterAsynchronous
Both methods can be used together
Technology makes telemedicine a realityThree roles for technology
Capture – Transmit – Display Information
CaptureInformation
DisplayInformation
Camera(s)MicrophoneMouse/keyboardSensorsRoboticsEtc.
Transmit
ConnectionsT1/T3Cable/DSLISDNPOTS
Computer ScreenVideoconf Equip Data LoggerWeb ServerEtc.
During a telemedicine interaction information is transmitted across a connection between participants at different sitesBandwidth is the measure of how fast information flows, i.e. the speed of a connectionYou can think of Bandwidth as a “pipe”
The bigger the bandwidth – thebigger the pipe – and the moreinformation that can flowthrough it
High Bandwidth connectionmore information can travel between sites in a given amount of time
Low Bandwidth connectionless information can travel between sites in a given amount of time
High BandwidthHigher Quality Audio/video
Faster, sharper video and smoother audio
Low BandwidthLower Quality Audio/video
Slower, fuzzier video and choppier audio
T1/T3Very high bandwidth, digital carrier technologies used for transmitting high volume voice, data, video
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)high bandwidth, all-digital replacement for POTS
Cable modem servicehigh bandwidth, uses cable television coaxial wiring
DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines)high bandwidth, uses analog phone lines
POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)uses standard analog telephone service
Firewalls
Hardware
Software
VPN
HIPAA
Technology must facilitate and promoteclient-clinician interaction
In some cases, technology may offer the opportunity to enhance and expand interaction
Face-to-Face Interaction
=Telerehab
Interaction
Telemedicine lies at the intersection of humans and technology
Environment
Organization
Telemedicine TechnologyPersonnel
Personnel are involved in all stages of telemedicine planning, training, implementationTelemedicine “users” are broad and varied
Therapists, nurses, aides, doctors, patients, caregivers, IT, support staff, administrators etc.
Each user’s response to telemedicine will be affected by his or her own level of technical expertise, physical capabilities, expectations, and organizational cultures
Clinical need MUST drive technologyAVOID “Technology Push”
Service to deliver• Assessment, treatment, monitoring
Information to transmit• Images, video, documents, EMRs, sensors,
etc.
Technology to implement• Type/format/size of data• Speed of transmission (bandwidth)
Features (“bells and whistles”) alone don’t make a specific technology the right choice…Essential considerations:
Clinical functionalityUsability (learnability, usage, error tolerance, etc.)Economic feasibility (start up and maintenance costs)
Telemedicine “users”:Clients, family members, caregivers, clinicians, assistants/aides, researchers, support staff, etc…
“Off-the-shelf” technology is powerful, but might not be exactly what is needed
e.g. modifications may be neededDocument cameras, fax machines, etc…
There’s no section in the User Manual for “How to conduct a telehealth session”Most Important…
Technology shouldn’t get in the way!
As technology improves…opportunities to deliver a wider range of services at a distancePotential clinical advantages:
Rehab in the “natural” environment is the goalMonitor transfer of trainingEnhance compliance with protocolsPatient-driven proactive healthcare
Clients will expect (and demand) high quality, technology-enabled healthcare
David Brennan, MBESenior Research EngineerCenter for Applied Biomechanics and
Rehabilitation ResearchNational Rehabilitation HospitalWashington, [email protected]
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Diana Christiana
TeamAdministrationIT Support SLPFacilitator
EquipmentTrainingCaseload Management (individual and groups)
Helper
Escort
Behavior Manager
Liaison
Troubleshooter
Lesson on citrus fruit-School Setting
Student’s view-School Setting
• Allows for Picture in Picture
• Therapist can control camera on the school’s side with the remote control
• Zoom in on a particular student when needed
• ELMO, document camera (pictured on theleft)
The school speech therapy room requires a minimum of a 32” monitor to support groups.A document camera encourages spontaneousmaterial sharing.Far end camera control is a benefit in managing groups and for “close-ups”.Using technology that the school is familiar with is beneficial.Kids love technology!
David Brennan
TeamSLPCoordinator/SchedulerIT (Tech Support)SLPFacilitator
EquipmentVideoconferencing with integrated data sharing“Virtual Desktop”
Training
Diana ChristianaClinical Communications
David Brennan
TeamSLPCoordinator/SchedulerIT (Tech Support)SLPFacilitator
EquipmentVideoconferencing with integrated data sharing“Virtual Desktop”
Training
Mr. F.51 year-old maleLCVA (5 months post-onset)Mild-mod aphasia, mod apraxia of speechAttorneyProficient computer userDischarged from SLPfollowing inpatient stay dueto lack of insurance coverage
Service Delivery ModelsHub-SpokeHome TelehealthResearch
Each space/location must be appropriate for service delivery
SoundLightingPrivacy
AV OnlyAudio-Visual Interaction
Only
AV + DataAudio-Visual with Shared
Data Interaction
Mr. Y.68 year-old maleLCVA (21 months post-onset)Mod-severe apraxia, mod non-fluent aphasia, mod dysarthriaRetired grocerNo prior computerexperience
Mr. F.51 year-old maleLCVA (5 months post-onset)Mild-mod aphasia, mod apraxia of speechAttorneyProficient computer userDischarged from SLPfollowing inpatient stay dueto lack of insurance coverage
Legal and Ethical Issues in Telepractice
Michael CampbellThe University of North Carolina
Regulation of Telepractice
State Licensure• State Authority• Current Status of State Licensure Laws and Regulations
• License in Telemedicine– Full license– Special license/certificate
Regulation of Telepractice (cont.)
State Licensure (cont.)• Alternative License Possibilities
– Negotiated reciprocity – Mutual recognition – Registration – Limited licensure – National licensure
Regulation of Telepractice (cont.)
Credentialing• Providers
– The Joint Commission: Telemedicine Credentialing Standards
– Specialty Credentialing Standards• Telemedicine Sites
Telepractice Malpractice Liability
• Jurisdiction• The Practice of Telehealth
– The Clinician‐to‐Patient Relationship– The Clinician‐to‐Clinician Consultations
Telepractice Malpractice Liability(cont.)
Standard(s) of Care• Suitability of telepractice • Clinical standards specific to telepractice• Voluntary standards for telepractice practitioners
Telepractice Malpractice Liability(cont.)
• Informed Consent• Apportionment of Liability• Insurance• Telepractice Equipment• Risk Reduction
Privacy of Electronic Health Information
• Concepts of Privacy, Confidentiality and Security
•Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
•Other Federal Restrictions• International Restrictions• Application of Privacy Restrictions to Telemedicine
E-Health and Antitrust
• The Antitrust Laws
• Issues in Application to E‐Health
Fraud and Abuse
• Kickbacks and Financial Inducements for Referrals
• Exclusion Remedies• Stark Act• Potential E‐Health Fraud and Abuse Issues
References
Fleisher, L.D., & Dechene. J.C.(2009). Telemedicine and E‐Health Law. New York, N.Y: Law Journal Press.
The revised standards, effective January 1, 2004, are contained in the “Medical Staff” chapter of JCAHO’s 2004 Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals.